August 19, 1922: The murder of Duluth’s Dr. J. J. Eklund

On this day in Duluth in 1922, respected physician Dr. J. J. Eklund was shot to death in his office in the Long Block at 7 East Superior Street. According to Duluth historian Heidi Bakk-Hansen, a “clean-shaven man in a cheap-looking suit had entered Eklund’s examination room and—without uttering a single word—pointed a .32 caliber German automatic pistol at the doctor’s back and fired three times. Without a second’s hesitation, the man then shot himself twice.” Both Eklund and his assailant, John Magnuson, died at the scene. Bakk Hansen notes that Magnuson was in the office to be examined by Eklund’s son William, also a physician. William Eklund had noted that John Magnuson, “appeared to be suffering from some form of dementia, possibly a result of Bright’s disease (chronic nephritis, an affliction of the kidneys). After saying he was ‘sick,’ the patient refused to say anything more beyond answering ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to any questions. He was given a prescription and the younger doctor was leading Magnuson to the exit when the shots rang out, only to turn and find the man hadn’t followed him, but instead had immediately entered the elder doctor’s office.” Why did Magnuson kill Eklund? We may never know, but Bakk-Hansen’s story holds many clues, and you can read it all here.

J. J. Eklund (Duluth Public Library)